It seems to be a sign of just how low we have set the bar when we're apparently expected to jump up and down in excitement because Rouhani acknowledged a fact of history.
Perhaps Rouhani can next give a speech in which he acknowledges that the theory of evolution--which is at the core of biological science--has some merit. I'm not holding my breath, however: rejection of evolution and embrace of creationism is widespread in the Islamic world.
Pope Francis' gesture is a very worthy one. But in the longer view, my reaction to seeing him washing prisoners' feet is like my reaction to seeing the cathedral at Chartres: it ALMOST makes me willing to overlook 17 centuries of crimes by the institutional Roman Catholic Church.
It seems to be a sign of just how low we have set the bar when we're apparently expected to jump up and down in excitement because Rouhani acknowledged a fact of history.
Perhaps Rouhani can next give a speech in which he acknowledges that the theory of evolution--which is at the core of biological science--has some merit. I'm not holding my breath, however: rejection of evolution and embrace of creationism is widespread in the Islamic world.
And after all the posturing by Rouhani recently, he declined the opportunity to simply say hello to Barack Obama at the United Nations. Sigh.
We need to demonstrate forcefully to dictators everywhere that dismembering people with high explosives is OK, but poisoning them is a war crime.
Pope Francis' gesture is a very worthy one. But in the longer view, my reaction to seeing him washing prisoners' feet is like my reaction to seeing the cathedral at Chartres: it ALMOST makes me willing to overlook 17 centuries of crimes by the institutional Roman Catholic Church.